Q: Popular activities

It’s easy to think Egypt is all pyramids and hieroglyphics. And while those are totally worth exploring, the reality is there’s even more for gappers to do. Here’s a feel for some of the most popular gap year in Egypt activities. Teach English. While Arabic is the official language in Egypt, English fluency is a highly sought after skill. As a result, there’s a huge demand for native English teachers to teach everyone from Egyptian preschoolers to private school students and adults. So, if you’re ready to put your English teaching hat on, start out by getting your TEFL certification. You’ll need either that or a teaching license from your home country for most paid gap year jobs in Egypt. Can’t wait to touch down on Egyptian soil? The cool thing is that you can actually get your TEFL certification in Egypt at a local certification center. And of course, you can play tourist after class, as many gap year programs in Egypt tie teaching and sightseeing into a sweet package. Language immersion. On the flip side, you could actually be the one learning a language if you do a language immersion gap year in Egypt. Why study Arabic? It’s the world’s fifth most spoken language. Plus, mastering it will open up a world of professional opportunities in the West, where not many people speak fluent Arabic. Think swagged out international affairs careers like the Foreign Service or well-paying translator jobs. Gappers will find several quality Arabic language programs in cities like Cairo or nearby suburbs.

Q: GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

As cool as Egypt is, it’s not the most common spot for gap year getaways. So, by choosing Egypt as your gap year locale, know that your choice will have you standing out in a big way. Future bosses and academic admins will be totally impressed! Not a native Arabic speaker? By choosing to gap in an Arabic speaking nation, you’ll gain even more cool points. That’s because stepping outside of your comfort zone will set you up for great intellectual stimulation. So pat yourself on the back, because doing a gap year in Egypt is all that! Don’t forget that Egypt is a conservative and majority Muslim nation. If you’re from the West, there will be some everyday Egyptian stuff to get used to. Before flying out, read up on some travel articles to get a feel for local customs. For example, did you know that during Ramadan in Egypt, you shouldn’t eat or drink in public? Or that when entering a mosque you have to take off your shoes? A little basic local knowledge can prevent awkward and offensive situations. Selfies at the Sphinx. Discovering mind-blowing pieces of Egyptian history (who knew Rosetta Stone is actually a real stone from 196 BC Egypt?!). This is the stuff truly enriching gap years are made of. Depart—you’ll be returning with more tales than Indiana Jones! Need a little gap year pep talk? Here’s why there’s nothing to fear with gap years!

Question 1

introduction

Accepted Answer

Picture yourself drifting down the river Nile or riding camelback under the warm haze of a Sahara sunset. And was &ldquo;The Mummy Returns&rdquo; one of your fave flicks? Then how cool would it be to actually explore the winding tombs of ancient pharaohs. Do your gap year in Egypt and have these epic experiences just outside your door. Trace the legacies of the world&rsquo;s most powerful dynasties at the cornerstone of two continents. Then immerse yourself in Egypt&rsquo;s 360 degrees of age-old culture and dramatic scenery. Ready to walk the line between ancient history and modernization (or like an Egyptian)? ;-) Do a gap year in Egypt!

Question 2

Introduction

Accepted Answer

Picture yourself drifting down the river Nile or riding camelback under the warm haze of a Sahara sunset. And was &ldquo;The Mummy Returns&rdquo; one of your fave flicks? Then how cool would it be to actually explore the winding tombs of ancient pharaohs. Do your gap year in Egypt and have these epic experiences just outside your door. Trace the legacies of the world&rsquo;s most powerful dynasties at the cornerstone of two continents. Then immerse yourself in Egypt&rsquo;s 360 degrees of age-old culture and dramatic scenery. Ready to walk the line between ancient history and modernization (or like an Egyptian)? ;-) Do a gap year in Egypt!

Question 3

Popular locations

Accepted Answer

What are the best spots for doing a gap year in Egypt? From the museums and catacombs, to a former World Wonder&hellip; No matter where you plant your gap year boots, you&rsquo;ll have access to dope exploration, information, artifacts, and more. So whether your plans are, here&rsquo;s what you can expect in the country&rsquo;s most popular gap year locations.
Cairo. In Cairo you&rsquo;ll find everything and then some in this world famous capital city. Downtown is a bustling international hub perfect for meeting other gappers and hanging with locals. Catch the breeze with local merchants in one of the city&rsquo;s outdoor malls&mdash;they&rsquo;re a centuries old trading culture chock full of super fascinating items to stumble upon. Or, roam one of Cairo&rsquo;s world renowned museums&mdash;some house over 100,000 ancient royal artifacts from Egyptian tombs. Want more? Just 30 minutes outside city limits you&rsquo;ll find 4,000 year old Giza pyramids. When your gap year wraps up, Cairo will have your mind exploding with memories of a lifetime.
Alexandria. Head to Alexandria, a city said to be founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC! Parts of Alexandria&rsquo;s ancient remnants were lost to earthquakes. However, you&rsquo;ll still find an awesome contrast between it&rsquo;s amazingly long lineage and bustling modern lifestyle, as its one of the major economic hubs of Egypt. Between the private city and ancient pharaonic village tours, you&rsquo;ll have tons to get into throughout your gap year. You could even hop on a Nile cruise at one of Alexandria&rsquo;s ports. Make sure you pay a visit to the Library of Alexandria. It was one of the of the most important libraries of ancient times&mdash;and studious gap years are totally legit!

Question 4

Popular activities

Accepted Answer

It&rsquo;s easy to think Egypt is all pyramids and hieroglyphics. And while those are totally worth exploring, the reality is there&rsquo;s even more for gappers to do. Here&rsquo;s a feel for some of the most popular gap year in Egypt activities. 
Teach English. While Arabic is the official language in Egypt, English fluency is a highly sought after skill. As a result, there&rsquo;s a huge demand for native English teachers to teach everyone from Egyptian preschoolers to private school students and adults. So, if you&rsquo;re ready to put your English teaching hat on, start out by getting your TEFL certification. You&rsquo;ll need either that or a teaching license from your home country for most paid gap year jobs in Egypt. Can&rsquo;t wait to touch down on Egyptian soil? The cool thing is that you can actually get your TEFL certification in Egypt at a local certification center. And of course, you can play tourist after class, as many gap year programs in Egypt tie teaching and sightseeing into a sweet package. 
Language immersion. On the flip side, you could actually be the one learning a language if you do a language immersion gap year in Egypt. Why study Arabic? It&rsquo;s the world&rsquo;s fifth most spoken language. Plus, mastering it will open up a world of professional opportunities in the West, where not many people speak fluent Arabic. Think swagged out international affairs careers like the Foreign Service or well-paying translator jobs. Gappers will find several quality Arabic language programs in cities like Cairo or nearby suburbs.

Question 5

Everything else you need to know about gap years in Egypt

Accepted Answer

Costs. Many travelers from the West say Egypt is pretty cheap depending on how you decide to spend your time. And, as with most places, lavish communities will cost your pockets more. So, decide the type of gap year in Egypt experience you&rsquo;re looking to have, then chat with program staff about program costs. Need help coming up with the cash for your travels? Fundraise it! This FundMyTravel resource will guide you through setting up successful gap year in Egypt crowdfunding. 
Accommodations. So how will you be living your best gap year life in Egypt? You might be shacked up in a cute furnished apartment (how lit does a studio overlooking Old Cairo sound?!), or you might be bunking in shared accommodation with other gappers. Some gap year programs in Egypt offer shared housing with local Egyptian families. So, if you&rsquo;re looking for even deeper cultural immersion into everyday Egyptian life, living with a local host family is a great way to go!
Visas. The type of visa you&rsquo;ll need depends on how you plan to spend your gap year in Egypt. So, if you&rsquo;re teaching you might get a work visa from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you&rsquo;re a volunteer in Egypt, you might get a tourist visa that&rsquo;s renewed every few months. Egyptian immigration has a reputation for slow visa processing. This is a common living abroad experience, but most gapper visa applications are successful. Gap year program staff will also tell you the deets on applying. Or, contact a Cairo Embassy for info too. Our GoAbroad embassy directory will get you their contact info in a jiffy.
Safety. Recently, Egypt has faced a surge in terrorist attacks. Still, most foreigners experience Egypt incident free. To stay safe, keep on top of location specific travel warnings that international orgs like the U.S. State Department issue. So, since governments are warning against travel to the Sinai Peninsula and the Libyan border with Egypt, don&rsquo;t test your luck. You should also avoid political protests and chats.
Many local Egyptian and foreign women report experiences of frequent sexual harassment in Egypt. Women are advised to wear non-revealing outfits and even sunglasses to avoid eye contact with street harassers. Many darker skinned Egyptians, immigrants, and travelers of African descent report discrimination. Ask Black gappers and women travelers for tips on handling racism and harassment.

Question 6

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

Accepted Answer

As cool as Egypt is, it&rsquo;s not the most common spot for gap year getaways. So, by choosing Egypt as your gap year locale, know that your choice will have you standing out in a big way. Future bosses and academic admins will be totally impressed! Not a native Arabic speaker? By choosing to gap in an Arabic speaking nation, you&rsquo;ll gain even more cool points. That&rsquo;s because stepping outside of your comfort zone will set you up for great intellectual stimulation. So pat yourself on the back, because doing a gap year in Egypt is all that! 
Don&rsquo;t forget that Egypt is a conservative and majority Muslim nation. If you&rsquo;re from the West, there will be some everyday Egyptian stuff to get used to. Before flying out, read up on some travel articles to get a feel for local customs. For example, did you know that during Ramadan in Egypt, you shouldn&rsquo;t eat or drink in public? Or that when entering a mosque you have to take off your shoes? A little basic local knowledge can prevent awkward and offensive situations.
Selfies at the Sphinx. Discovering mind-blowing pieces of Egyptian history (who knew Rosetta Stone is actually a real stone from 196 BC Egypt?!). This is the stuff truly enriching gap years are made of. Depart&mdash;you&rsquo;ll be returning with more tales than Indiana Jones!
Need a little gap year pep talk? Here&rsquo;s why there&rsquo;s nothing to fear with gap years!